Billiat leaving Sundowns, but still unsure of his future

JOHANNESBURG - Khama Billiat, the Mamelodi Sundowns two-goal hero in their 2-0 victory over Premier League champions Bidvest Wits on Tuesday night, says he’s not made up his mind about his future just yet.

His contract with the Brazilians expires at the end of the season, and while coach Pitso Mosimane revealed after the match that he was already looking for a replacement as far as South America, Billiat wasn’t open about his next move.

“My head is here, I am still contracted to Sundowns,” said the Zimbabwean striker, who came off the bench to score twice for his club against the title holders. “I will have to honour my contract. I don’t know where I am going yet. I will have to hear from my agent. Maybe we could still talk to Sundowns about a new deal, I don’t know.”

But Mosimane said the negotiations had reached and impasse and Billiat was definitely on his way out of Chloorkop.

“I left him on the bench because the team that started against Orlando Pirates the last time (a 3-1 victory at Orlando Stadium) played well, not because of the contract situation. But if you want news on that, Khama is leaving,” Mosimane told reporters in his post-match interview.

“We have our people in South America because (Leonardo) Castro is also leaving. This means the CBD (deadly combination of Castro, Billiat and Keagan Dolly, who went to France in January last year) has officially been dismantled.”

Billiat said he would remain professional and not allow his situation affect his performances, and the evidence was there when he bagged the double to win them the game.

“I still want to play for this club (while under contract). I just want to play football. It is very important for me to be professional because I don’t want to look like I am disrespecting everyone. I have teammates that keep pushing me as well and the technical team that has taught me so much,” explained Billiat.

He has been previously linked with a move to Saudi Arabia, where he could potentially triple his salary at Sundowns, but other PSL teams will also be monitoring the situation with keen interest. Billiat can sign a pre-contract in January with any club he wants to join at the end of the season as per Fifa rules.